Testing out using foam for the side decking on a raft frame
/We’ve started messing around with a new - to us – product. It’s a closed cell PE/EVA blended foam material from a company called SeaDek. It’s UV resistant, non-absorbent, specifically formulated for marine applications, and used on sailboats, ski boats, SUPs, etc. We’re not the first to give this idea a try, but we wanted to test it out for ourselves. What will it be like on the side decks of one of our raft frames?
The messing around got started in the spring, when we put down a sample block of foam on the floor, right in the middle of the shop. We ran welding tables over it, threw screwdrivers at it, and intentionally dropped stuff on it. It held up surprising well to this abuse.
At first we were thinking it might be a good product for the tops of dry boxes and other places you might sit on your raft. Turns out the 5mm SeaDek is not as "tush" friendly as the 5/8” closed cell cross linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) we’ve used before. For seats it seems better to keep using the fine-celled 5/8” thick XPLE foam.
SeaDek is dense and tough. Perfectly suited for a raft frame’s side decks? To see if this was the case, we built a frame with smooth (not diamond plated) side decks, had it powder coated, detailed it out, installed the SeaDek, and then decided to go rafting!
We took a trip through Cataract canyon in July. Each day brought temperatures over 100⁰ F. The SeaDek did a great job of keeping things cool, provided as much or more traction as diamond plate, was easy to clean, and incredibly barefoot friendly. Turns out it was a great way to outfit the side decks.
Next we are going to make a footwell floor with SeaDek. Stay tuned for the results of that experiment. Until then, since we really liked the SeaDek on the side decks, we will start offering SeaDek foamed side decks as an option for our raft frames this winter and into 2019.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your time on the water.
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September 2022
- Sep 16, 2022 The All Flat Raft Frame - part 2 of 2 Sep 16, 2022
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July 2022
- Jul 14, 2022 The All Flat Raft Frame - part 1 of 2 Jul 14, 2022
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May 2022
- May 12, 2022 Cooler Latch Surgery May 12, 2022
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April 2021
- Apr 4, 2021 Comparing 12’ Rafts - Hyside Max 12 v NRS 12’ Osprey Apr 4, 2021
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January 2021
- Jan 19, 2021 Designing for Cooler Latch Clearances Jan 19, 2021
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November 2020
- Nov 4, 2020 Trying out a few new ideas on our 2020 NRS E-160 demo raft. Nov 4, 2020
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April 2020
- Apr 21, 2020 Oar Tower Placement & The 4-bay Raft Frame Design Challenge Apr 21, 2020
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October 2019
- Oct 31, 2019 Adding Side Decks with SeaDek to a Single Rail Frame Oct 31, 2019
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August 2019
- Aug 23, 2019 Oar Tower Testing: Speed-Rail fitting with stanchion vs NRS frame oar mount Aug 23, 2019
- Aug 12, 2019 Can you put SeaDek foam on Diamond Plate Decks? Aug 12, 2019
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May 2019
- May 17, 2019 Choosing & Setting Up a Raft Bimini May 17, 2019
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March 2019
- Mar 28, 2019 Finishing details of the first CHUB Mar 28, 2019
- Mar 15, 2019 Comparing 16' Rafts - NRS E-160 v Hyside PRO 16 XT Mar 15, 2019
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November 2018
- Nov 6, 2018 Our Aluminum "Chub" Hatchery. Nov 6, 2018
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August 2018
- Aug 11, 2018 New Raft - New Ideas Aug 11, 2018
- Aug 2, 2018 Testing out using foam for the side decking on a raft frame Aug 2, 2018
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June 2018
- Jun 30, 2018 Rigging Rails for Raft Frames Jun 30, 2018
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May 2018
- May 29, 2018 Hog Island - One River Many Voices Project May 29, 2018
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March 2018
- Mar 22, 2018 Dry Box Tray Mar 22, 2018
- Mar 8, 2018 A visit from the Wooden Brother Mar 8, 2018
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February 2018
- Feb 16, 2018 The Details in the Dories Feb 16, 2018
- Feb 7, 2018 Dory Build - the "Dimock" Evolved Briggs Boats Feb 7, 2018